The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), which combines education, advocacy, and community to help ensure justice for asbestos victims, today issued this statement from ADAO President and Co-Founder Linda Reinstein, in opposition to the legislation introduced today by U.S. Sens. David Vitter (R-LA) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) inappropriately named the “Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act”. The bill purportedly designed to protect the public from toxic substances would allow asbestos to remain legal and widely used in the U.S.

“Asbestos exposure in the U.S. alone is responsible for at least 10,000 Americans dying each year from asbestos-related diseases,” said Linda Reinstein, president and co-founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. “The fact that the Vitter-Udall bill will not even restrict, much less ban, the deadly substance that claims 30 lives a day is nothing short of a national travesty. Any Senator who supports this industry proposal is in essence supporting the continuation of the toll asbestos has already had on millions of American families.”

“Any ‘chemical safety’ bill that does not ban asbestos isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on,” added Reinstein. “No other toxic chemical claims more lives and leaves more families without mothers, fathers, sons and daughters than asbestos. And the legislation offered by Mr. Udall and Mr. Vitter will only expose future generations to asbestos and many other highly toxic chemicals.”

About the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was founded by asbestos victims and their families in 2004. ADAO is the largest non-profit in the U.S. dedicated to providing asbestos victims and concerned citizens with a united voice through our education, advocacy, and community initiatives. ADAO seeks to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure, advocate for an asbestos ban, and protect asbestos victims’ civil rights. For more information, visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org.

Fine for failing to test for asbestos

Peter Page, the manager of Apartment
Renovation Company, has been fined $40,000 after he failed
to test a substance for asbestos. Mr Page was obliged to
have the textured ceilings tested for asbestos prior to
commencing the work.

Mr Page was sentenced today in the
Auckland District Court under Health and Safety in
Employment (Asbestos) Regulations and the Health and Safety
in Employment Act. Mr Page should have taken all practicable
steps to ensure that, when it was necessary to know whether
a substance was asbestos or not, the substance was
appropriately tested.

Shane Harris was employed as a
handyman by Peter Page to work on 10 units being renovated
and painted at a Kingsway Avenue site. Eight of the units
had textured ceilings.

Mr Harris started work on the site
on 29 July 2013 and about two weeks later he first expressed
his concerns about the ceilings to Mr Page. Because he did
not test for asbestos before work started, Mr Page was then
obliged to have the ceilings tested but did not. He told Mr
Harris that the ceilings had been tested and they were not
asbestos. This was not true. As a result up to 15
contractors were potentially exposed to the risk of asbestos
for approximately 3 months. When Mr Harris became concerned
that the advice he had received from the Mr Page was not
correct, he took his own sample which tested positive for
the presence of asbestos.

“It is recommended practice to
treat any suspect material, like textured ceilings, as
containing asbestos until test results prove otherwise,”
says Brett Murray, General Manager High Hazards and
Specialist Services. “Asbestos poses a risk if it is not
properly contained, especially during building work where
materials are cut or drilled.”

Peter Page had identified
the textured ceilings before work started but he thought the
ceilings were asbestos-free as they didn’t have sparkling
material visible to the eye. “Asbestos is often mixed with
other materials so it is virtually impossible to identify by
eye,” says Brett Murray. “The only way to be certain
that materials contain asbestos is to have them
tested.

“While Mr Page now routinely tests for asbestos
when working with textured ceilings, the regulations are
clear. If you are alerted to the possibility of asbestos in
any material, then you have to have that material
tested.”

• Asbestos has been a major focus for
WorkSafe NZ over the past 12 months.• In December
2013, WorkSafe New Zealand organised a trans-Tasman forum on asbestos in
Canterbury and in May 2014 we released an Asbestos Toolkit, a series of eight
factsheets on asbestos.• We have also launched a new
website on asbestos aimed at helping homeowners and DIYers
understand the risks involved with asbestos and how to
manage them. • www.asbestosaware.co.nz was launched in
Christchurch by the Combined Health and Environment Risks
Programme Control Group made up of WorkSafe NZ, Environment
Canterbury, Christchurch City Council, CERA, Canterbury DHB
and Waimakariri District
Council.

today pulled up the Environment Ministry (MoEF) for providing a “vague and uncertain” response.

A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, made the observation after going through an affidavit filed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests(MoEF) and fixed the matter for further consideration on December 23.

“None of the affidavits is specific as to what steps have been taken by the Ministry of Environment and Forests or any other authority of the State to answer a question as to whether any asbestos mining was being carried on in any part of the State or not. Affidavit filed by the MoEF is vague and uncertain.

“It is undisputable that asbestos mining activity is considered hazardous and causes serious environmental and health hazard including dangerous diseases like cancer etc. We are constrained to observe that concerned Ministry and appropriate authorities of the state are expected to exercise their power to prevent and control degradation of environment and harm to public health,” the bench said.

The Tribunal also directed C S Thakur, MoEF Under Secretary, to be present and produce complete records in relation to asbestos mining.

“He is also directed to obtain complete data on physical inspection from all the states i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Telengana, Jharkhand and Karnataka. This data should be collected from the concerned state governments, mining departments and respective Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees,” the bench added.

The Tribunal was hearing pleas by NGO Environics Trust and Amar Singh seeeking directions to appropriate authorities to immediately stop all asbestos mining operations in the country and ensure their scientific closure.

It has also sought a direction to Indian Bureau of Mines, Department of Mines and Geology and State Pollution Control Boards of different states to restore and reclaim abandoned mining in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

ACT Government bans builders from removing asbestos

Chief Assembly reporter for The Canberra Times.

The ACT Government has moved to close a loophole that has allowed builders to remove up to 10-square-metres of bonded asbestos from homes, a rule the Government says has been widely misunderstood and abused.

From January 1, any asbestos removal, including bonded asbestos sheeting, must be done by licensed asbestos removalists, who will now come under the control of Worksafe.

Builders were never allowed under the law to remove even 10-square-metres without asbestos training, but Work Safety Commissioner Mark McCabe said the training requirement was the most widely flouted.

“The 10-square-metre rule is actually significantly misunderstood. Tradesmen think it means they can remove up to 10-square-metres of asbestos without controls, that’s not true,” he said.

Lawmakers sought a total ban on the the importation, manufacture, processing, use and distribution of the “dangerous and disease-causing” asbestos and asbestos-containing products.

Akbayan party-list Reps. Walden Bello and Ibarra Gutierrez III lamented that despite the issuance of a resolution seeking to totally ban asbestos in the Philippines during the 11th National Occupational Safety and Health Congress in October 2008, the use of the harmful substance continues.

In filing House Bill 4437, they expressed concern that Philippines is considered as the fourth largest importer of asbestos at $76.32 million annually.

“The current policy is one of control by regulation of the use and disposal of asbestos products. There is a ban on crocidolite or blue asbestos and amosite or brown asbestos while the use of chrysolite or white asbestos is not banned and permitted in high density products as fire proofing, clothing, roofing felts or related products, asbestos cement roofing and flat sheet, friction materials, high temperature textile products etc.,” Bello said.

Bello noted that the “alarming” exposure to asbestos even in very minute amounts could lead to asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

House Bill 4437 provides the implementation of the ban on the importation, manufacturing, processing, use or distribution of asbestos and asbestos-containing products whether for commercial or non-commercial purposes “not later than two years from the effectivity” of the proposed Act.

The proposed Asbestos Ban Act of 2014 tasks the Secretary of Health, in consultation with the Secretary of Trade and Industry and the Secretary of Labor and Employment, to establish a public education and safety program aimed primarily at increasing awareness of the dangers posed by asbestos-containing products and contaminants in homes and workplaces and asbestos-related diseases.

An inter-agency technical advisory council attached to the Department of Health (DOH) shall also be created to assist the agency in preparing, conducting and reporting the public education and safety program, the bill said.

HB 4436 provides that any person who violates the provisions of the Act shall be punished by a penalty of six months to two years imprisonment or a fine of not than P100,000 nor more than P1 million or both at the discretion of the court.

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A Paisley-based asbestos removal company has been fined more than £100,000 for exposing workers to dangerous fibres while demolishing a former school building.

A court heard Angus Group Ltd did not properly manage the removal of asbestos-containing materials from the former Ermine Infants’ School, Lincoln.

The Health and Safety Executive discovered the safety breaches in 2012.

Angus Group was fined £109,000 and ordered to pay £42,100 in costs.

It was found guilty at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court of eight breaches of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 relating to the incident in March 2012.

Angus Group were sub-contracted to carry out the asbestos removal work on behalf of the contractors demolishing the school, which was owned by Lincolnshire County Council.

A survey carried out before work began found the end walls of the school’s main hall were covered in a spray-applied coating of asbestos, and should therefore be removed by a licensed contractor under safe, controlled conditions.

‘Catalogue of failings’

Investigations by HSE concluded that these recommendations were ignored by Angus Group.

The asbestos spray coating on the main hall walls was chiselled off using power tools without any screens, enclosures or air extraction systems in place.

Asbestos-containing material was bagged and carried to a skip outside.

Angus Group notified the main contractors that the asbestos removal work on the main hall was finished, but when the project agents and main contractors visited the next day, they found the hall covered in dust and patches of asbestos material still on the wall.

“Start Quote

It is deplorable a company that does know better failed to properly manage the dangers of this hidden killer”

End QuoteMartin GilesHSE inspector

The court heard that HSE found a catalogue of failings in the way the work had been planned and carried out.

HSE experts concluded the company’s safeguards to control the asbestos risks were “seriously inadequate”, leading to an unnecessary release and spread of dangerous asbestos fibres and dust.

The plan and risk assessment for the asbestos removal work in the building’s boiler room were also found to be “confused” and a decontamination unit was not powered.

Fifteen of the 17 samples taken in and around the hall proved positive for asbestos.

A subsequent analysis, which included other parts of the building, found asbestos fibres in 15 of 34 samples, indicating asbestos had spread throughout the building.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Martin Giles said: “Angus Group Ltd is an experienced licensed contractor, and was fully aware of all the hazards and all its responsibilities to ensure safety at all times.

“It is deplorable a company that does know better failed to properly manage the dangers of this hidden killer.”

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), the largest independent non-profit organization in the U.S. which combines education, advocacy, and community to help ensure justice for asbestos victims, today issued this statement from Linda Reinstein, mesothelioma widow and ADAO President and Co-founder:

“Today, the U.S. House of Representatives held theseventh hearing to discuss the need to reform the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which is the nation’s law governing toxic chemical use. While ADAO is encouraged by efforts to overhaul the outdated, ineffective, and deadly TSCA, the ‘Chemicals in Commerce Act’ revised Discussion Draft does not address the dangers of asbestos to public health. ADAO continues to voice grave concerns with House Energy and Commerce Environment and the Economy Subcommittee Chairman John Shimkus’ (R-IL) on this fatally flawed bill.

“On April 2, 2014, Rear Admiral Boris Lushniak, Acting U.S. Surgeon General, issued a statement about asbestos, reconfirming that ‘scientists have long understood that asbestos can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other lung diseases when the fibers are inhaled,’ yet the Bill does not adequately protect the public from this dangerous toxin.

“At today’s hearing, Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) strongly warned that we should not pass a bill that gives ‘the illusion of progress.’ To date, not one public health organization has supported the Bill as drafted, even with the changes discussed today.

“The fact is that asbestos remains legal and lethal in the USA. Americans have lost confidence in the chemical industries’ ability to protect us from toxins. Asbestos has caused one of the largest man-made disasters in history. More than 30 Americans die each day from preventable asbestos-caused disease, yet Congress allows for imports to continue. ADAO has seen the robust chemical industry propaganda to lobby Congress and fool Americans. TSCA reform must empower and enable the EPA to ban asbestos and other known toxins. Without responsibility, accountability, and transparency, no one is safe. The only two ways to eliminate environmental and occupational asbestos-caused diseases are prevention and a cure. It is simple: TSCA reform that allows the continued use of asbestos is not strong enough to protect Americans from toxins.”

Since 2004, ADAO has been actively engaged in stakeholder meetings, testifying at Congressional hearings to ensure Congress passes meaningful legislation to protect the public from dangerous chemicals such as asbestos.

Despite its known dangers, there is still no global ban on asbestos, and it continues to claim lives. Exposure to asbestos, a human carcinogen, can cause mesothelioma, lung, gastrointestinal, laryngeal, and ovarian cancers; as well as non-malignant lung and pleural disorders. The World Health Organization estimates that 107,000 workers around the world will die every year of an asbestos-related disease, equaling 300 deaths per day.

About the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was founded by asbestos victims and their families in 2004. ADAO seeks to give asbestos victims a united voice to help ensure that their rights are fairly represented and protected, and raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure and the often deadly asbestos-related diseases. ADAO is funded through voluntary contributions and staffed by volunteers. For more information, visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org.

A Minneapolis demolition company has paid a fine for sending clouds of dust into nearby businesses from the portion of a late-1800s Warehouse District building that excavators knew contained asbestos.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) on Tuesday announced payment of a $10,000 penalty by Ramsey Excavating for using improper procedures in the spring of 2013 to remove and contain the asbestos-holding materials while tearing down the 119-year-old building at 643 N. 5th St., down the street from Target Field.

Al Ramsey, president of the 15-year-old company, pointed out Wednesday that “it was not confirmed” that the dust actually contained asbestos. “The only thing that caused the fine was the visible emissions,” Ramsey added.

Sean O’Connor, who represented the MPCA during the visit, said it was not his duty to address whether the dust actually contained asbestos, adding that “there was no analytic sampling of the dust” conducted for the carcinogen.

She added that it’s too late to do an analysis at this point: “The dust is gone.”

According to the MPCA, during the inspection on April 29 at the three-story site, where Northern Auto Parts had operated until 2009, O’Connor saw the dust generated during demolition coming from one area of the building and blowing into the adjoining street and neighboring businesses.

Before the demolition, which was to make way for high-density housing, Ramsey Excavating told the MPCA that asbestos-containing materials — such as pipe and boiler insulation — were in that area of the building.

Asbestos has long been known to be a carcinogen, in particular causing mesothelioma, a deadly cancer of the lung lining. The contractor was spraying water on to the debris with a single fire hose, but that was inadequate in preventing the dust from blowing away from the site, the MPCA said.

O’Connor also saw that a pile of debris that included asbestos-containing materials was not being processed for disposal in a timely manner. That pile had lingered for four days, the agency said.

In addition to paying the fine, Ramsey Excavating also agreed to use proper containment practices in the future and to manage asbestos-containing materials and debris in a timely manner.

we are incredibly passionate about making certain these individuals get not only the best possible compensation, and or treatment, we also make certain these incredibly special people are treated properly by the VA

(PRWEB) December 13, 2013

The Lung Cancer Asbestos Victims Center says,” Unfortunately US Navy Veterans have some of the highest incidence of mesothelioma, because at least in the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s, and 1980’s asbestos was used on most parts of all US Navy ships, especially in engine rooms, ammunition magazines, repair rooms, fuel storage areas, and or electronics areas. We are urging all diagnosed victims of mesothelioma, or their families to call us at 866-714-6466 for on the spot access to the nation’s most skilled mesothelioma attorneys, or asbestos exposure law firms, because all these incredibly experienced legal experts do are financial compensation claims for mesothelioma victims. At the same time we, or the mesothelioma attorneys we suggest, will help the diagnosed victim who served in the US Navy navigate their way through the VA system including treatment options, and or benefits.” For more information diagnosed victims of mesothelioma who were exposed to asbestos while serving in the US Navy, and or their families are encouraged to contact the Lung Cancer Asbestos Victims Center anytime at 866-714-6466.

Do not make the mistake of hiring a local personal injury attorney to handle a US Navy Veteran mesothelioma financial compensation claim. The Lung Cancer Asbestos Victims Center believes there are four, or five incredibly skilled mesothelioma attorneys in the nation who consistently get the best financial compensation results for US Navy Veterans who were exposed to asbestos on a US Navy ship, and the group is offering instant access to these incredibly skilled legal experts with one call to 866-714-6466.

If a US Navy Veteran who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma has been getting the run around from the VA medical system as far as treatment options they, or their family members are encouraged to contact the Lung Cancer Asbestos Victims Center, and the group will try to intervene in behalf of the Veteran.

Don’t walk away from possibly substantial financial compensation, or VA benefits. If a US Navy Veteran who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma feels like they have been stonewalled, or slow tracked on VA benefits, they or their family members are encouraged to contact the Lung Cancer Asbestos Victims Center at 866-714-6466.

The Lung Cancer Asbestos Victims Center says, “According to the CDC, high risk workplaces for asbestos exposure include: US Navy, shipyards, power plants, manufacturing factories, chemical plants, oil refineries, mines, smelters, aerospace manufacturing facilities, demolition construction work sites, railroads, automotive manufacturing facilities, or auto brake shops. With mesothelioma or lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure, the cancer may not show up for decades after exposure. The average age for a diagnosed victim of mesothelioma is 72 years old. According to the CDC between 2500 and 3000 US Citizens will be diagnosed with mesothelioma this year.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control the states with the highest incidence of lung cancer include: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, and West Virginia. The states with the highest incidence of mesothelioma include: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maine, Washington, and Wyoming. Because of their population size California, New York, Texas, Ohio, Illinois, and Florida are the states with the most diagnosed victims of mesothelioma. http://LungCancerAsbestosVictimsCenter.Com

As long as the diagnosed victim of mesothelioma, or their family members can supply us with proof of exposure to asbestos, the center will do everything possible to help get what might be substantial financial compensation, including instant access to the nation’s most skilled mesothelioma attorneys.” For more information please call the Lung Cancer Asbestos Victims Center anytime at 866-714-6466. http://LungCancerAsbestosVictimsCenter.Com

In more than half the cases it’s not the diagnosed victim of mesothelioma or lung cancer asbestos victims we talk with. Surprisingly, we have found that the adult son or daughter call on the behalf of the diagnosed victim because their parent is too sick

(PRWEB) October 21, 2013

The Lung Cancer Asbestos Victims Center says, “We know that when many people hear the words “mesothelioma” or “asbestos exposure” lung cancer, they think of US Navy Veterans, shipyard, construction, power plant, or oil refinery workers. In reality, commercial or military aircraft manufacturing workers and aerospace workers make up a significant number of the diagnosed victims talk with every month.

In more than half the cases it’s not the diagnosed victim of mesothelioma or lung cancer asbestos victims we talk with. Surprisingly, we have found that the adult son or daughter call on the behalf of the diagnosed victim because their parent is too sick. We encourage these types of calls to us at 866-714-6466, because it gives us the opportunity to instantly put the diagnosed victim, or their family members, in instant contact with the nation’s most skilled mesothelioma compensation attorneys and asbestos exposure law firms.” http://LungCancerAsbestosVictimsCenter.Com

Important note from the Lung Cancer Asbestos Victims Center: “Because the average age of the asbestos exposure related lung cancer we talk to is in their late 60’s, or early 70’s, we encourage the adult daughter or son to call us anytime at 866-714-6466.

US states with significant aerospace, or aircraft manufacturing facilities:

With mesothelioma or lung cancer directly caused by exposure to asbestos, symptoms may not show up until decades after the exposure. The Victims Center has found that many victims never smoked and also may not connect their mesothelioma, or lung cancer to asbestos exposure. As long as the victim, or their family members, can provide sufficient answers to our questions about exposure to asbestos, the Center will do everything possible to help them get what might be significant financial compensation.” For more information please call the Lung Cancer Asbestos Victims Center at 866-714-6466. http://LungCancerAsbestosVictimsCenter.Com